By Richard Thomas, Ibadan
The Deputy Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Honourable Abiodun Mohammed Fadeyi has described the recently launched security outfit in the South Western States of the country code named Amotekun as welcome development.
Hon Fadeyi in statement said the development became imperative as a way to securing the Yoruba nation against insecurity menace in Nigeria.
According to him, the security outfit is a welcome development from all indications, saying from historical perspective of the Yoruba nation, the south west has been a unified region until creation of more states in the country.
Commenting on the statement of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Mr Abubakar Malami declaring the Amotekun outfit as illegal, the Deputy Speaker described the utterance as unethical and uncalled for adding that the security outfit has come to say.
Malami made the statement barely a few days after the inuaguration of Amotekun saying the outfit was not backed with any known law of the land.
Hon Fadeyi in a swift response to the statement said the AGF lacks information on the security network, adding that the AGF’s view on the issue was from a different perspective.
“The South West nation has taken the lead by setting up a security network that will take care of the menace of insecurity and herds men incursion in the Yoruba territory.
“No responsible government will watch its citizens being kidnapped and subjected to all kinds of humiliation. Nigeria is a federating nation practicing democracy, So the establishment of the security network is a welcome development.”
Hon Fadeyi said the Oduduwa lineage has a strong bond between Yoruba nation adding that from history the south Western States have always remains unified.
“Said he, “It has been spelt out in powers of state Assemblies in section 100 of the 1999 constitution as amended that it has powers to make laws for the good governance of its state, meaning that for a state to be well governed, the issue of security should be paramount.
“So, as such, the constitution of Nigeria gives the state Assemblies powers to make laws for their government. The action leading to the establishment of Amotekun was not illegal, he declared.
According to the Deputy Speaker, the formation of Amotekun by the South West government is still an on going process that will be backed by legislation of South West States to give it legal backing.
“A case in some parts of North in 1999 after the nation returned to Democracy, they came up with Sharia laws to govern their states, they approached the state Assembly and had the laws backed with legislation, This development took place in states like Zamfara, Kano and others.
The Deputy Speaker said the Amotekun was created out of the necessity of overwhelming security in Nigeria Apparatus which include the police and other security agencies adding that, it is not a replacement of the police, Army and others.
Hon Fadeyi said what brought about the curiosity of government on the issue was the wide acceptability of the security outfit by the people
He advised the people to embrace it the more and help it with useful information.
Hon. Fadeyi also admonished the vigilantes to be up and doing in the task of making the Amotekun Security Network a vibrant one
